Mouth-Watering New Green Products! SkinOwl's Eye Cream & Caru Skincare Co!

Some products I receive I'm just so excited to start testing out.  Such was the case with both SkinOwl's new Eye + and a completely new line for me, Caru Skincare Co.  

SKINOWL EYE +

A super refreshing, multi-purpose eye treatment
If you read my blog posts, you'll know that I love SkinOwl, as I reviewed their products only a few short months ago.  When creator, Annie Tevelin mentioned to me that she was launching her eye cream, I was all in and, judging from my Instagram feed where I posted a picture of the cream, so are many of you. 

THE CONSISTENCY   SkinOwl Eye + is super light and has a thick gel feel to it....comparable to the feel of a thicker pure aloe vera gel.  One of the reasons I am so smitten with this product is the fact that the gel maintains a cool temperature and feels so refreshing every time I apply it. It's recommended that you keep it in the refrigerator to activate the cucumber enzymes (increases circulation and minimizes lines and wrinkles) and I think that's a brilliant idea.   It's like applying fresh cucumber puree to your eyes.  I love it. $46

WHAT IT DOES & WHAT'S SO COOL ABOUT IT   From the SkinOwl site: "Transforms crepe-paper skin into healthy, resilient and firm skin around your eyes, cucumber de-puffs, aloe smooths and silkens."  What did I find? It makes the skin around the eyes soft and creates a smooth surface for makeup application. It feels wonderful on tired eyes and it definitely de-puffs. It feels like such a treat and I'm not just saying that.  This is so refreshing and can only imagine how helpful it would be for those on computers all day or super-exhausted moms. What's cool is that Eye + can also be used as an all-over face treatment.  I've been applying it to my forehead, cheeks and nose and I would love, love, love to have this in a larger size to use as an all-over treatment all of the time.  This is perfect for pre-makeup application. 

CARU SKIN CARE CO.

I am excited about this line.  There, I said it.  

The first time I heard about Caru was just a few weeks ago when Pemberley Jones opened her new online store and was carrying them.  Needless to say, I was intrigued.  I mean, who has more gorgeous packaging than this brand?  Uhm...no one.    AND what really makes their soap packaging even more incredible is that it's wrapped in biodegradable, handmade, 100% PCW paper label embedded with SEEDS!  Yep, that's right, you can plant the packaging.  Can you stand it?  

Pemberley Jones says:   "I love how much care Dominique, Caru's creator, takes to make the line as sustainable as possible.  From sourcing her ingredients to choosing minimal packaging that's still beautiful."

I have the Dry Skin Facial Kit ($43) which consists of Rock & Rose Facial Toner, French Green Clay Face Soap and Organic Jojoba Oil Daytime Moisturizer.   They also carry an Oily Skin Kit and a Chamomile Skin Rescue Face Kit for dry or weather-damaged skin. They come packaged in a gorgeous linen bag.  Boy, did they nail it on the packaging here!

Rock & Rose Facial Toner   I love a toner that doesn't dry out the skin.  This toner leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. I've been using it each time after I cleanse and absolutely loving how it removes any makeup the cleanser didn't get.  Although the name may lead you to believe otherwise, this toner does not smell like roses.  It has a bit of a sour smell to it, which I don't mind in the least as the ingredients and performance are so wonderful. I can't imagine everyone not benefitting from this toner - dry skin or not! $24

Ingredients: Rose (Rosa damasena) Hydrosol*, Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) Hydrosol*, Rock Rose (Cistus ladaniferus) Hydrosol*, Hydrosol Blend*  *organic

French Green Clay Soap  I'm very sad that I'm almost finished with my bar of this soap. This is one soap that I can honestly say will not dry out your face.  BUT, my body is loving it, too.  I started out testing it on my face and then body.  It feels wonderful and is so pure. The scent is of lavender with pine.  Let's just say that I want more of this.  Oh, and this soap is vegan!  $9

Organic Jojoba Oil Facial Moisturizer   There's nothing like a pure face oil.  This incredibly affordable oil makes my skin so soft, I'm in love. I daresay that I would start recommending this to people who want to start on face oils but don't want the oily feeling or heavy price tag.  This oil is unrefined and certified USDA organic.  It provides an SPF of 4 (so it's great for layering with your non-toxic sunblock).  $10

*All opinions are my own, gosh darn it!

Toners! Who Doesn't Just Love A Great Natural Toner? Sanre Organic Skinfood, Herbal Grace Creations, GingerChi, & Dr. Alkaitis Trump!

I am a huge fan of toners.  I love using them to take off any residual makeup left after cleansing,  to hydrate before applying my moisturizer, to set my makeup and I also keep a few on my desk to hydrate throughout the day.  

SANRE ORGANIC SKINFOOD Rosy Fresh Toner

I buy this toner in bulk.  Seriously.   I am never without it and it's my go-to on a daily basis for many years now.   Why do I love thee?  Well, it's so moisturizing that I never even contemplate applying a moisturizer without spraying it beforehand. Check out the ingredients and tell me they aren't beautiful!  I love the fact that there's so many essential oils in here.  $25.99  (Sign up for their emails because they have great sales...and often!)

Ingredients:  Organic Rose Hydrosol, Organic Witch Hazel Hydrosol, Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Organic Rose Absolute Essential Oil, Organic Rose Essential Oil, Organic Green Tea Extract, Organic Chamomile Essential Oil, Organic Calendula Oil, Organic Arnica Essential Oil, Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil.   Certified Vegan.

HERBAL GRACE CREATIONS Queen of Hungary's Facial Toner

I'm a firm believer in the power of Apple Cider Vinegar.  Sure, it doesn't smell like unicorn breath, but nothing balances the skin quite like it and honestly, you'll get used to it, especially after you see the wonders it does for your skin.    I usually make my own, but it pales in comparison to this one.  The process by which Queen of Hungary's Facial Toner is made is pretty intense and I love the added ingredients of lemon balm leaf, calendula flowers, sage and more.  This is how it's created: "The toner is made by solar-infusing organic herbs in raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar for a three-week period. This enables the therapeutic properties of the herbs to extract.  After three weeks, the herbs are strained and pure rose water is added in equal proportion to the vinegar solution."  Yeah, this toner has got mine beat by A LOT!  I recommend this for those with problem skin, those in need of a good cleansing and those who wish to tone their skin.  $16. 

Ingredients:  Organic raw apple cider vinegar, Rose water, Organic lemon balm leaf, Organic chamomile flowers, Organic red rose petals, Organic calendula flowers, Organic comfrey leaf, Organic lemon peel, Organic rosemary leaf, Organic rubbed sage

GINGERCHI Rejuvenating Ginseng Toner

I absolutely love this toner and even suggested to GingerChi that they should be working on a natural fragrance based on it...I know it sounds strange, but it's that gorgeous. Anyway, this is such a wonderful toner that I dread finishing it.  The scent is perfection, as are the ingredients.  This toner is great for balancing the skin, hydrating and leaving it feeling refreshed and clean.  If you love a clean, fresh, ginger/citrus scent, you'll love using this.  To read a full review of GingerChi's products, click here.  $36

Ingredients:  Rose Water, Melissa Water, Ginseng Tincture*, Aloe Vera Concentrate*, Siberian Ginseng, NFF Moisturizer, Sea Silk, Eco Preservative, Essential Oil of Fresh Ginger. *Organic

DR. ALKAITIS Organic Herbal Toner

Ah, this is the good stuff.  My skin always feels super, super clean after using this.  The reason I love it? First off, the ingredients are perfect.  With a base of Aloe Vera, I find it to be a tad thicker than other toners and I love that.  This is a super effective and multi-functional product as it's a toner, astringent (that will NEVER dry out the skin) balances the skin and is also anti-inflammatory.  This can also be used as an after-sun tonic.  It's so cooling and refreshing.  I love it.  $55

Ingredients:  Into a base of organic Aloe Vera gel*, Witch Hazel and organic grain alcohol* (from the fermentation of organically grown grains), the following organic and wild-crafted herbs are blended: Greater Nettle*, Wild Chamomile flowers**, Myrrh**, European Elder blossoms*, Marsh Mallow*, French Lavender flowers*, Curacao Orange*, Benzoin**, Rosemary*, Wild Fennel** and Balm Mint*. Grapefruit* and Lemon* extracts. Sea Oak**, Atlantic Kelp** and Pearl Moss**. Also added are natural vitamin B and vitamin C complexes and 100% pure Essential Oils. * - Signifies certified organically grown. ** - Signifies ethically wild-crafted

Some of these products were purchased, some were generously given to me for review.  All opinions are my own.  I hope you find something you love here!

My Natural Open Sky favorites from Lotus Wei, Lollique Beauté & Waxelene!

When the peeps from Open Sky contacted me and asked for me to pick out and review some products that would appeal to me and my green-minded readers, I was very excited.  These are three products that I just loved.

Lotus Wei's Inner Peace
I love Lotus Wei.  I'm a huge fan of Infinite Love and Joy Juice, but think I've always truly needed Inner Peace (I'm a big worrywart).  I tested out the Inner Peace serum and the mist.  If you've never tried  these, I suggest you do and here's why:  

Inner Peace Mist -  Unlike many other aromatherapy products out there that are kinda strong and medicinal-smelling (why is that?) Inner Peace smells so relaxing and pure.  It's an absolute pleasure to sniff.  I find myself spraying the mist while I'm at my desk and then taking it in my bag and spraying it whenever I come upon it in my makeup bag.

Inner Peace Serum -  I've been keeping this right next to my bed and applying it to my face, neck and hands each night.  It's glorious (yeah, I'm bringing back the word glorious)!  Cup your hands and lift them up to your face and just breathe in to feel "deep calm, confidence and contentment."  This is great for relieving anxiety, nerves over public speaking, stress, etc.  I actually feel relaxed when I take time out to apply this. 

Lollique Beauté
I hadn't heard of this line before and I'm a little confused as to why as their skincare is super natural and really well made. 

Mask de Miel - Honey, honey, honey, it's all I'm hearing about lately...and quite frankly, I love the idea of it.  These ingredients are superb (raw Manuka honey and dried botanical plants, to name a few). This is one super-thick and hearty mask that's handmade in small batches and very high quality.  It left my skin toned, hydrated and glowing.  This can be used as a mask and/or face cleanser.  

Polissant - I have to admit, I'm a huge sucker for a delicious-smelling natural product.  This smells like a just-baked sugar cookie...so good.  I love using this.  If you're in the market for a great cleanser that will exfoliate gently, this is the way to go.  This product also contains some natural alpha hydroxy acids, so I like to keep it on my skin for a minute, but remember your sunblock post-use!  Oh, and this product contains nuts, dairy, honey and bee pollen...allergic types, take note!

Chamomile Hydrosol - I love a good toner.  I use them constantly...spraying whenever I need some moisture, before I apply my moisturizers and also to set my makeup.  If you don't use one, I'm confused how we're friends.  Lollique's Chamomile Hydrosol was an instant favorite due to the fact that I absolutely love chamomile.  They also have hydrosols in Cornflower (intriguing...) Lavender, Witch Hazel, Rose, Lemongrass, Lemon, Orange and Pure Aloe Vera.

Lipstick Couleur in First Date Pink - I also tried their lipstick/balm in First Date Pink.  If you're looking for a balm with some very subtle pink (bright pink in tube, comes out a light baby pink) I suggest you go for this.  I love wearing it to the gym...a little color, but I don't feel like I've got lots of lipstick on.

Waxelene
I do not have enough AMAZING things to say about this.  If you're using petroleum jelly in any capacity, this is one of the first changes you need to make.  Don't believe me?   Read up on what's in it. Blech!  Not only does this smell like the sweetest honey, it's non-greasy, goes on clear, doesn't clog pores like petroleum jelly and is super multi-purpose.  You can moisturize every body part (including feet), remove makeup, use on your lips and, of course, it's perfect for wee babies.  The ingredients? Organic Soy Oil, Beeswax, Natural Vitamin E, Organic Rosemary Oil.  Oh, and I will be most definitely purchasing this when my lil tube runs out...and that's saying A LOT!  Get it on Open Sky here!

*I kindly received these products to review and thankfully, I loved them.